Happy Birthday, USA

Get out on the Fourth of July.

By Mike Rosen-Molina

Published: June 30, 2017

Does your baby have the wherewithal for a diaper derby? One is coming to Albany, so sign up today.

CC United States Marine Corps

USA! USA! Shed a tear for liberty and eat hot dogs for the golden dream that is America. Cities all around the Bay Area celebrate Independence Day in true American style. Berkeley’s Fourth of July Festival features food vendors, handmade crafts, free dragon boat rowing, pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, and fireworks over the water south of Berkeley Pier. July 4, noon-10 p.m., free, Berkeley Marina, AnotherBullwinkelShow.com/4th-of-july.

Everyone loves a parade, and the annual Alameda Mayor’s Fourth of July Parade has equestrians, marching bands, and floats, floats, floats. Local civic groups, businesses, and nonprofits compete to see who has the best float, and the spectators are always the real winner. Before the parade, sporty types can join a 5-kilometer run and walk through Alameda starting at 9 a.m. at 1417 Park St. July 4, 10 a.m., free, Park and Lincoln to Webster and Lincoln, Alameda, AlamedaParade.com.

Meanwhile, the Albany Green, Red, White & Blue Celebration invites the youngest Americans to participate in the Diaper Derby. The roughest, toughest babies compete in ultimate test of baby speed, endurance, and brute baby force. Place your bets early on which baby has what it takes to crawl across the finish line first and become the ultimate champion of Diaper Derby. Or, if that’s too silly, compete in the watermelon-eating contest or the beard and mustache face-off. July 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., free, Memorial Park, 1325 Portland Ave., Albany, AlbanyCa.org.

Published online on June 30, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.

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